Diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a complication of new or existing Type 1 Diabetes. Pediatric DKA may be complicated by cerebral edema and due to this risk, is treated differently than adult DKA. Health care providers must follow a published pediatric-specific protocol when treating pediatric DKA. We have chosen 3 examples of such protocols: a general treatment algorithm from the Canadian Diabetes Association, a detailed treatment algorithm from BC Children's Hospital (English) and a detailed treatment algorithm from Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine (French). Each pediatric hospital in Canada will have a protocol that they follow, thus early communication with the diabetes specialist at your pediatric referral site is a key element of the management of these patients.